The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-05
Messrs. Oberly and Lyman Think the Officer
Should Be Condemned, While Edgerton
Thinks the Charges We're Indefni
Eb Henderson Lucidly Explains the
Democratic Situation in Indiana.
Indignation Over Recent Statements Con-
cerning the Pay Corps of the Army-The
Rumored West Point Scandal Proves True.
THE sEERERGER CASE.
Points on Which tho CiviI-Service Con1mi
sioners Failed to Reach Agreement

sioners Failed to Reach Agreement
WASHINGTON. Sept 4-Tne Civil-service Com
mission has submitted to the President the
port of its investigation, in April last, of the
complaint made by George A Webster against
Anthony f. Seeberger, collector of the port of
Chicago and transmitted to the President by
she Civil-service Reform League of Chicago. and
by him referred to the commission, charging
violations of the civil-service law. The report
consists of the 'opinion of the commission"
which is signed by Commissioners Oberly and
Lyman; report to the commission
by Commissioner Edeerton. and an
other by Commissioner Lyman, who con-
fines himself principally to the testimony
submitted at the investigation. The opinion Of
the commission. as submitted to the President
says that the complaint of Mr. Webster is. in
substance. that ne compelled resign a
place in the Appras srs Office of the Chicago Gus
toms district: that this compulsion was exercised
upon him, not because he was inefficient. undu-
tiful, insubordinate dishonest or for any other
good cause, but because he was Republican,
and the collector desired to put Democrat into
the place occupied by him. In his letter of COM
plaint Mr. Webster says that after receiving no
tice that his resignation was demanded. he called
upon the collector and was informed that no
complaint had been urged against his official
conduct and ability. which were excellent,
but that, owing to a great pressure, there was a
necessity that vacancies should be made and
that the collector at this interview said: s'You
must remember that our party has been out of
power for twenty Eve years. and you should be
thankful for having been allowed to stay two
years under a Democratic administration"
Webster, the opinion continues was compelled
to resign.
Collector Seeberger replied that his request for
Webster's resignation had been made for rea-
sons amply strong. and that he had acted in
strict conformity with the civil service law as
he understood it. In his testimony before the
commission Mr.. Seebercer denied having said
anything to Mr.. Webster that could
be construed into a declaration that
the request for his resignation
was prompted by political reasons
"The reasons for mis- removal" said Mr.. See
berger, 'swere in nay OWE mind and kesplng,"
and these he refused to state. The opinion OBJ
serves that while Mr.. Seeberger states emphat-
ically that he did not say to Mr.. Webster that
his resignation had been demanded for political
reasons, he did not inform him that such were
not his reasons. In this connection attention is
called to the fact that Mr.. Webster was not
SO far as the evidence shows, given the
benefit OF the law which requires the
heads of executive departments. in making re-
ductions of force, to retain those persons who
may be equally qualified. who have been honor
ably discharged soldiers or sailors. "Mr
Webster" says the opinion, sis honor
ably discharged wounded soldier; he passed
the civilservice customs examination with
average of 90 5 per cent, and his conduct and
capacity having been satisfactory during his
probationary term, he appointed. He was
aff rds fair frf nd off
service. His competency Collector Seeberger
does not deny. That Webster waA an offensive
partisan is not shown by the testimony. In the
affidavit made by him he swears that he was
never politician; had never attended a caucus
convention a delegate and but once as
spectator. He adds: II have, however, strong
honest political views which 1 have always
held, in quiet and genrlemanly way, keeping
always IN view the rights OF others who might
differ from meF' Strong political views.
had right to entertain. and during the time be
held public place it was his right to give, at
proper times, strong expression to those views.
The opinion is not to be tolerated that because a
man occupies place in the classified civil SER
vice he must therefore surrender his right to |
take interest in the politics of the country. |
No good citizen will do so; and no degree of |
tvity in effort to advance the interest of the |
party opposed to the administration should, pro-
vided his partisan activity in way nterferes |
with his public duties. render insecure, in the
ice of the government. the position of any person
who does not occupy place the discharge Of the |
duties of which affects public policies" The |
opinion suggests that if the rule which obtains in
the Treasury Department, requiring to |
be given for every dismissal or forced resigna- |
ton. were observed In the administration of the |
affairs of all the branches of the executive civil
service, there would be- difficulty in arriving
at speedy and definite conclusions upon COM |
plants OF the kind under consideration; but |
while appointing officers havasthe right to |
tain within their own minds and keeping the |
reasons for the removals made by them. they |
may abuse their power with shameful impunity |
and an abuse of this kind remain unchalenced. |
The opinion criticises what it terms "Commis- |
soner Edgerton's evident attempt to justify |
Collector Seebereer in his refusal to permit the |
reasons he had for demanding Mr.. Webster's |
resignation, to escape from his own mind and !
keeping" and the position taken by the COM
missioner that rule requiring reasons for such
removals would result In the restriction OF the
power of removal. is pronounced untenable.
The practice, as now in vogue in the Treasury
Department, and in the Chicago postofice, is
cited in support of this position The opinion
maintains .hat there Is no cause why reasons
should not be given for removals,
the appointing officer neither owns the office
occupied by him, nor the offices occupied by the
persons under his supervision He is not the
employer of his suborcnates He is not a mas
ter. He is servant, servant of the people,
and certainly no good reason can be given why
he, in serving thepeople should be permitted to
hold in his own mind and keeping his reasons
for doing refusing to do an act in the perform
ancs nonperformance of which the people
have an interest. 1t is not unlawful to remove
q goOd man VINO ls In every way competent In
the discharge of his public'du but. upon the
removal of such man without good causs-and
there may be good for such re-
movaI--ihe officer making the removal should
be condemned"
Concerning the right Of the commission to make
Investigations of the kind conducted by Commis-
sioners Edgerton and Lyman at Chicago. against
the right and policy of which Commissioner Ed
gerton makes objection, the opinion saws that
such Investigations result in the good OF the
ice, in the correction of wrong methods and of
bad methods. and sometimes in the disclosure of
evasions and of violations of both the law and
the rules
dissent from Commissioner Edgerton's censure
of vilservice reform leagues and associations,
and particularly of the Civil-service Reform
League of Chicago, and says that Its observation
has discovered o purpose OF any of them to